Summary
USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) was a US Maritime Administration (MARCOM) C1-M-AV1 type coastal cargo ship, originally planned as an Alamosa-class cargo ship. Constructed as Maiden's Eye for the MARCOM, completed in August 1945 and placed in operation by the War Shipping Administration (WSA). After the war Maiden's Eye was transferred to the US Army and renamed USAT Colonel William J. O’Brien who kept her in service until transferred to the US Navy in 1950 for operation as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until 1973.
 USNS Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246), underway, date and location unknown.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Maiden's Eye (never received name) |
| Namesake | Maiden's Eye (a type of knot) |
| Ordered | as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2323[1] |
| Builder | Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California |
| Yard number | 1228[1] |
| Laid down | 17 January 1945 |
| Launched | 13 February 1945 |
| Commissioned | delivered to War Shipping Administration (WSA) prior to commissioning, 10 April 1945 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Delivered to the Army Transportation Service (ATS), 11 July 1946 |
| History | |
 United States | |
| Name | Colonel William J. O’Brien |
| Namesake | Lieutenant Colonel William J. O’Brien, awarded Medal of Honor |
| Operator | ATS |
| Acquired | 11 July 1945 |
| In service | 11 July 1945 |
| Out of service | 1 March 1950 |
| Fate | Transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950 |
| History | |
 United States | |
| Name | Colonel William J. O’Brien |
| Operator | MSTS |
| Acquired | 1 March 1950 |
| In service | 1 March 1950 |
| Out of service | 1 September 1973 |
| Stricken | 1 September 1973 |
| Identification | Hull symbol: T-AK-246 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 9 November 1973 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Alamosa-class cargo ship |
| Type | C1-M-AV1 |
| Tonnage | 5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)[1] |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 388 ft 8 in (118.47 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × propeller |
| Speed | 11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Complement |
|
Construction edit
The ship was laid down as Maiden's Eye, one of the "Knot" ships named for a type of splice, on 17 January 1945 and launched, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas S. Middleton, on 13 February 1945 at Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach, California, as a type (C1-M-AV1) under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2323.[3][2][4] She was acquired by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 10 April 1945 with operation by Grace Line as WSA's agent.[3]
US military service edit
On 11 July 1946, Maiden's Eye was assigned to the U.S. Army under bareboat charter for operation as USAT Colonel William J. O'Brien until transferred to the US Navy 1 March 1950.[3] The Army name was retained with the ship immediately transferred to the MSTS as USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien (T-AK-246) for permanent assignment.[5] USNS Colonel William J. O’Brien was stricken from the Navy List on 1 September 1973.[2]
Disposition edit
Title was returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 9 November 1973 with sale to B. V. Intershitra of the Netherlands for $223,550 for scrapping.[6]
Notes edit
- Citations
Bibliography edit
Online resources
- "Colonel William J. O'Brien (T-AK-246)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - "C1 Cargo Ships". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- "USNS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246)". Navsource.org. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- "MAIDEN'S EYE". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- "COLONEL WILLIAM J. O'BRIEN". United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- Long Beach Independent (14 February 1945). "326 Foot Vessel Launched Sideways". Long Beach Independent, Long Beach, California. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
External links edit
- Photo gallery of USS Colonel William J. O'brien (AK-246) at NavSource Naval History